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Accused Officer Loses Shared Custody of Kids

On Monday, SDPD Officer Jennifer Charpentier appeared in family court where a judge revoked the shared custody of her two children she has with her ex-husband. Jennifer and her husband Bryce, also an SDPD officer, were arrested last week on multiple drug charges. NBC 7’s Artie Ojeda spoke with Jennifer, who is now suspended from the department. (Published Monday, June 9, 2014)

A San Diego Police officer arrested with her husband on drug charges has lost shared custody of her two children from a previous marriage.

Monday morning, Jennifer Charpentier was in family court to hear a judge’s ruling on the custody she shares with her ex-husband over their 16 and 18-year-old sons.

The judge decided she is now allowed just 32 hours a week of supervised visitation, pending legal proceedings on the drug arrest. That means there has to be an agreed upon third party with them.

“I feel terrible about it. I feel awful,” Jennifer told NBC 7. “I want the kids to be in our home. I want the kids to be in the dad’s home. I want us to have shared custody. I want us to be able to co-parent and raise the kids together.”

Her ex-husband filed an emergency court order to determine temporary custody after Jennifer and her now-husband Bryce – also an SDPD officer – were both arrested last week on charges of possession of a controlled substance, sales of drugs, transportation and conspiracy.

Bryce is also accused of being under the influence while in possession of a loaded firearm. Both are now on paid leave from the department.

Jennifer told NBC 7 Monday that the deputies who arrested them gave very little information about what was going on, but she said they did offer a possible clue.

“There was surveillance video of a vehicle belonging to us that apparently raised some suspicion,” she said. “So, as to why we weren’t spoken to about that immediately, I don’t know.”

She said the video was taken near the Mid-City division where Bryce worked, but she had no more information.

But Jennifer said the police department requires drug testing and that “in general, I have never tested positive for any painkillers or any illegal drugs. Neither has my husband. In general, I can tell you that’s true.”

So far, no charges have been filed by the District Attorney’s Office, but the two will make appearances in court in the next few days.